Curtain track assembly

ABSTRACT

A curtain track assembly includes a flexible rail made from a resilient polymeric material and including an elongate base portion extending along the length of the rail and having opposite first and second surfaces, and an elongate carrier-hanging portion extending along the length of the rail and protruding from the first surface of the base portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a curtain track assembly, more particularly to a curtain track assembly including a flexible rail.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional curtain track assemblies for mounting on a window frame of a vehicle, such as a train, a car, and the like, generally include a rail, and a curtain connected slidably to the rail. However, the rail is normally made from a rigid material, and thus have poor flexibility to conform to the curved surface of the window frame and/or to be bendable so as to extend around any obstruction protruding from the window frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a curtain track assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.

Accordingly, a curtain track assembly of this invention comprises: a flexible rail made from a resilient polymeric material and including an elongate base portion extending along the length of the rail and having opposite first and second surfaces, and an elongate carrier-hanging portion extending along the length of the rail and protruding from the first surface of the base portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the first preferred embodiment of the curtain track assembly for mounting on a window frame of a vehicle according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top view to illustrate how a flexible rail of the first preferred embodiment can be bent to extend around a brake light of the vehicle; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the curtain track assembly according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying preferred embodiments, it should be noted herein that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the first preferred embodiment of a curtain track assembly for mounting on a window frame 61 of a vehicle, such as a train or a car, according to the present invention is shown to include: a flexible rail 1 made from a resilient polymeric material and including an elongate base portion 11 extending along the length of the rail 1 and having opposite first and second surfaces 114, 115, and an elongate carrier-hanging portion 12 extending along the length of the rail 1 and protruding from the first surface 114 of the base portion 11; and a bonding member 5 attached adhesively to the second surface 115 of the base portion 11 and having an adhesive layer 51 opposite to the second surface 115 of the base portion 11.

The base portion 11 has two opposite sides 116, each of which extends along the length of the base portion 11, and each of which is formed with a plurality of spaced apart cuts 112. Each of the cuts 112 is preferably V-shaped. Each of the cuts 112 in one of the opposite sides 116 of the base portion 11 is preferably aligned with a respective one of the cuts 112 in the other of the opposite sides 116 of the base portion 11 in a transverse direction relative to the length of the rail 1. The cuts 112 permit bending of the rail 1 such that the rail 1 can be configured to extend around objects that have angled corners during mounting of the rail 1 on the window frame 61.

The carrier-hanging portion 12 has a T-shaped cross-section, and cooperates with the base portion 11 to define two opposite elongate guiding channels 13.

The curtain track assembly further includes a curtain 2 slidable along the rail 1. The curtain 2 includes a connecting edge portion 21 connected to the rail 1 and formed with a plurality of spaced apart connecting holes 211.

The curtain track assembly further includes a plurality of carriers 3, each of which has a U-shaped portion 31 and a hook portion 32 extending from the U-shaped portion 31. The U-shaped portion 31 of each of the carriers 3 has two opposite free ends 311 formed with studs 312 that are respectively and slidably received in the guiding channels 13 in the rail 1. The hook portion 32 extends into a respective one of the connecting holes 211 for hanging the curtain 2 on the rail 1.

The curtain track assembly further includes a pair of stop blocks 4 mounted respectively on two opposite ends of the rail 1 for preventing undesired removal of the carriers 3 from the carrier-hanging portion 12.

In this embodiment, the bonding member 5 is in the form of a double-sided adhesive tape for adhering the rail 1 securely to a mounting surface 63 of the window frame 61.

In the case where a brake light 62 is mounted on and protrudes from the window frame 61 (see FIG. 3), the rail 1 can be bent at a section thereof which is formed with the cuts 112 so as to extend around the brake light 62.

FIG. 4 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of the curtain track assembly according to the present invention. The second preferred embodiment differs from the first preferred embodiment in that the carrier-hanging portion 12 has a generally C-shaped cross-section, and defines a guiding channel 13. Each of the carriers 3 has a hanging end 31 and a hook end 32 opposite to the hanging end 31. The hanging end 31 is formed with two opposite studs 312 that are slidably received in the guiding channel 13.

With the inclusion of the flexible rail 1 in the curtain track assembly of this invention, the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art can be eliminated. Moreover, with the inclusion of the cuts 112 formed in the flexible rail 1 of the curtain track assembly of this invention, bending of the rail 1 of the curtain track assembly to extend around the brake light 62 on the window frame 61 is permitted.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A curtain track assembly comprising: a flexible rail made from a resilient polymeric material and including an elongate base portion extending along the length of said rail and having opposite first and second surfaces, and an elongate carrier-hanging portion extending along the length of said rail and protruding from said first surface of said base portion.
 2. The curtain track assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bonding member attached adhesively to said second surface of said base portion and having an adhesive layer opposite to said second surface of said base portion.
 3. The curtain track assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said base portion has two opposite sides, each of which extends along the length of said base portion, and each of which is formed with a plurality of spaced apart cuts.
 4. The curtain track assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said cuts is V-shaped.
 5. The curtain track assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said cuts in one of said opposite sides of said base portion is aligned with a respective one of said cuts in the other of said opposite sides of said base portion in a transverse direction relative to the length of said rail.
 6. The curtain track assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said carrier-hanging portion has a T-shaped cross-section, and cooperates with said base portion to define two opposite elongate guiding channels.
 7. The curtain track assembly as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of carriers, each of which has a U-shaped portion and a hook portion extending from said U-shaped portion, said U-shaped portion of each of said carriers having two opposite free ends formed with studs that are respectively and slidably received in said guiding channels in said rail.
 8. The curtain track assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said carrier-hanging portion has a generally C-shaped cross-section, and defines a guiding channel.
 9. The curtain track assembly as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a plurality of carriers, each of which has a hanging end and a hook end opposite to said hanging end, said hanging end being formed with two opposite studs that are slidably received in said guiding channel. 